Romantic, lyrical songs with a modern edge.

Best known for his opera, Blake, his art songs and choral writing, Harrison Leslie Adams has made significant contributions to the genres of vocal and instrumental music. Currently a full time composer living in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, his music has earned him national attention. He graduated from Oberlin. Among his teachers were Herbert Elwell, Joseph Wood, Robert Starer and Vittorio Giannini. It is appropriate that this first compact disc dedicated to his music be of his songs for he is certainly one of the most gifted and immediately lyrical composers of our time. About Darryl Taylor the great MET tenor George Shirley writes: "It was a foregone conclusion that Darryl Taylor would one day record the works of composer H. Leslie Adams. From the day of our first meeting in Los Angeles in the mid-1980's, it was apparent to me that this young tenor was an artist with a two-fold mission: to champion the works of African-American composers, and to commission and otherwise encourage composers of whatever race or ethnicity to create new works for the singing voice. This CD recording of songs from the prolific pen of Leslie Adams is a shining example of Dr. Taylor's sterling artistry and dedication to the perpetuation and performance of the American art song.

Review:

"Adams' songs are...tuneful, often simple, but just as often they take the most unexpected and delightful harmonic turns. They don't go quite where we think they will and are all the better for surpassing our expectations." (American Record Guide

"The Adams songs are beautifully crafted. This composer...sets his texts with love of words and musical technique to match the poetry." (American Guild of Organists - Cleveland)